Another Crewman Revealed

The newly found leg bones are well-preserved and are located near where buttons were
found earlier

Wednesday, March 28, 2001

BY BRIAN HICKS
Of The Post and Courier staff

Archaeologists have found another Hunley crew member buried in
the Confederate submarine's silt-filled interior.
Scientists on Tuesday discovered two femur and trochanter bones
about midway back in the sub's crew compartment. The bones, all leg bones, are far enough
from the remains found a week ago that archaeologists feel fairly sure they are from a
second crew member.
Bob Neyland, the project manager, said the femurs are sticking
straight up and are not connected to other bones - at least at the top ends.
"The remains are well preserved, as were those uncovered
last week, and it will be some time before the remains are removed from the
submarine," Neyland said.
The latest bones were discovered near the spot of the
excavation's first significant find - metal artillery unit buttons.
Scientists expect to find the remains of all nine members of the
Hunley's final crew, which disappeared on Feb. 17, 1864, after sinking the Union sloop
Housatonic.
The archaeologists also have uncovered more bones connected to
the first remains discovered, mostly additional vertebrae. Dr. Doug Owsley, head of
Physical Anthropology at the Smithsonian Institution, said those remains are in good
enough shape to tell that the seaman's spine took a real pounding, possibly from the heavy
work of turning the submarine's propeller with hand cranks.
The excavation is escalating into a phase of heavy findings. New
artifacts turn up almost daily. The archaeologists have finally uncovered some parts of
the hand crank and have found a couple of more wooden buttons. As more of the clay like
sediment is removed, archaeologists are also beginning to see more of the hand pump used
to empty the aft ballast tank.
On the portside bench the crew sat on, Neyland said they have
found more textiles. The team has cleared more sediment from the wooden bench and have
found several pieces of textile on it so far.
Other scientists connected to the project have started
researching the artifacts recovered from the sub so far. Dr. Jonathan Leader of the South
Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology said the bottle recovered more than a
week ago was manufactured in England and most likely held medicine - such as a seasickness
concoction - or "a form of courage." That would be booze.
Neyland expects the excavation, which has slowed slightly with
the discovery of human remains, to continue for another month. Scientists expect to find
more remains and the majority of artifacts lower in the sub, where they most likely would
have settled after it sank.